Adjustable dating stamp



July 2.7, 1937. L. MELIND ADJUSTABLE DATING STAMP Filed June 25, 1954 OSD-SOCI 9 VIHOU Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED sTATss PAT? FFEQE 23 Claims.

This invention relates to stamping devices, and

is more particularly concerned with an adjustable dating stamp.

Stamps of the kind to which this invention per- 5 tains are commonly employed for stamping the date of reception or transmission of letters, papers, and the like. Briefly, the stamp of the present invention comprises a casing having the stamping assembly fixed to one end thereof. A handle is provided on the other end of the stamp casing, and a dating assembly of the four band type is disposed within the casing, this dating assembly having its lower end projecting through a slot forme-d in the stamping assembly and with the printing characters on the bands of the dating assembly disposed in the plane of the printing characters on the stamping assembly, for cos operation therewith.

Broadly, one of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a new and improved construction of stamp in which the stamping assembly may readily be detached from thev stamp casing and another stamping assembly, having different printing characters: thereon, substituted therefor. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved construction of stamp in which the dating assembly may be adjusted with respect to the slot in the stamping assembly, so as to bring the printing characters on the bands of the dating assembly into the plane'of the printing characters on any stamping assembly which may be secured to the stamp casing.

More specically, the objects of the present invention reside in the provision of means of simple construction for detachably securing the stamping assembly to the casing, and the provision of means of simple construction for adjustably supporting the dating assembly within the casing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailedv description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a stamp embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the stamp shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View, taken along the lines 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the` dating assembly adjusting means;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan View of the stamping assembly;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the stamping assembly;

Figure 7 is a front elevational View of the stamping assembly; and

Figures 8 and 9 are a top plan and a vertical 5 sectional View, respectively, of a new and improved form of band wheel for the dating assembly.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the stamp of the present invention includes a casing ID, which is of generally rectangular form and may be formed of brass, or any other suitable material. This casing is open at both ends, and forms, in effect, a shell which is adapted for the reception of a dating assembly, designated generally at II.

The dating assembly comprises an inverted U- shaped frame l2, the downwardly depending arms I 3 of which are preferably reduced in width, as shown at I4. The frame may be formed of any suitable material, and each of the arms i 3 thereof are. notched at I5 to provide kfor the reception of a metal bar I6. This metal bar i@ has a snug t in notches I5 and formsI a bed plate for the Adating bands I l. These dating bands are preferably formed of rubberized fabric, or any other suitable material, and are preferably four in number, although a greater or less number of bands may be employed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. These bands have small rubber printing characters secured thereto, the printing characters on one of the bands being in the form of abbreviations of the several months of the year. Two of the bands carry cardinal numerals, by which the various combinations of the days of the month may be obtained, and the other band contains printing characters forming the successive years as, for example, from 1934 to 1939,'t0gether with any other printing characters desired. These bands are endless bands and are disposed between the arms I3 of frame I2. i At their lower ends, the bands pass over the metal bar It; and at their upper ends they pass over hubs I8, which are rigidly secured to operating wheels I9. These operating wheels are relatively large compared to the hubs Yi8 and have their outer periphery serrated, as indicated at 26, to provide a gripping surface which may readily be grasped by the ngers to rotate the wheels. The wheels are each rotatably mounted upon a shaft 2l, this shaft being secured at its opposite ends in the arms I3, substantially centrally thereof. The bands are stretched tightly between the bar I and the hubs I8 of operating Wheels I9 and have a friction iit with the hubs I8, 55

so that upon operation of the wheels I9 the bands will be caused to pass around the bar i6. The dating assembly is preferably inserted in the casing through the open upper end thereof, the casing being provided with a plurality of slots 22 through which the operating wheels i9 project outwardly of the casing. These slots extend downwardly from the upper edge of the casing and are of suiiicient length to permit of the wheels moving vertically therein upon vertical movement of the dating assembly within the casing.

The dating assembly is adjustably mounted for vertical movement within casing lil by means which will now be described. This adjustable mounting means comprises two at metal plates 23, one of which is disposed along each of the longitudinal sides of the transverse portion 24 of the frame I2. Each of these plates is provided with two slots 25 which extend inwardly from the opposite shorter sides of the plates and adjacent the lower edge thereof. The longitudinal sides of the transverse portion 2d of frame i2 are notched inwardly from the outer edge thereof, as indicated at 2li, to provide lugs one of which is disposed at each of the four corners of transverse portion 2li. The plates 23 ht in the notched portions 25 of transverse portion 2li, and the lugs 2'! extend into the slots 25 formed in plates 2S. These lugs have a relatively snug t in slots 25 and serve to secure the plates to frame l2. The depth of the notch 2li is approximately equal to the thickness of plates 23, so that the plates will lie in the plane of the sides of arms i3 of frame l2. t will also be noted that the portion 28 of the plates 23, below the slots 25, have their extreme outer ends cut away so that such portions will be disposed within the plane of the sides of arms i3. v

Disposed between the two plates 23 is a solid block 29, which may be formed of brass, or any other suitable material. The opposite ends of this block are out away to provide an outwardly extending inclined boss Sli on each side thereof. These bosses extend into and have sliding movement in inclined slots 3l formed in plates 23, these slots 3l extending substantially the full length of the plates. Substantially centrally thereof, the block is provided with a horizontally disposed opening 32 which is internally threaded to cooperate with external threads formed on the bolt or screw 33. It will be noted that the threads on bolt 33 terminate a short distance below the head 3 thereof, as indicated at 35. Also, at its outer end, the bolt extends for a short distance beyond the threaded portion thereof and is reduced in diameter, as indicated at 36. The reduced portion 3@ of bolt 33 is journaled in an opening 3l in side wall till of the casing it, and, the portion 35 of bolt 33 is journaled in an opening 39 formed in the side wall 40 of casing B. A washer ll is disposed about reduced portion Se of bolt 33 and between the inner surface of side wall 33 and the threads on the bolt. Likewise, a washer l2 embraces portion 35 of the bolt and is disposed between the threads thereof and side wall il@ of casing lll. These washers serve to prevent endwise movement of the bolt with respect to the casing.

To mount the dating assembly within casing lli, the plates 23 are first secured to frame l2 of the dating assembly. The metal block 2li is then disposed between the plates and its pair of bosses 3! engaged in the slots 3l formed in plates 23. This entire assembly is then inserted into the casing through the open upper end thereof and is slid downwardly therein until the opening 32 in block 2e is in line with the openings cl'l and 3Q in the side walls 38 and 4%, respectively, of the casing. The bolt 33 is then projected through opening in the casing and threaded into opening in block 2Q, after which washer il is placed on the reduced portion S of bolt 33 and such reduced portion then journaled in opening 3l of the casing. The washer i2 is preferably a split washer and may now be snapped over portion 35 of the bolt.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that as the bolt 33 is journaled in the openings 3l and 39 of the casing, the block 29, therefore, when threaded in either direction along the bolt, will be forced to move in a straight line across the casing. Clockwise rotation of bolt 33 will move block 29 toward the right hand side of the casing, as viewed in Figure 2, and counterclockwise rotation of the bolt will move the block toward the left hand side of the casing. Due to this straight line movement of block 29 across the casing, the inclined bosses 38, carried by the block, will set up a camming action therebetween and the lower edge of slots 3l in plates 23, in which they engage, thereby moving the plates 23, together with the dating assembly, downwardly within the casing' when the block is moved to the right. camming action will be set up between the upper edges of bosses 3@ and the upper edges of slots Iii, thereby raising the plates 23 and the dating assembly with respect to the casing. It will be apparent, therefore, that by properly rotating bolt 33 the dating assembly may be raised or lowered with respect to the casing. The block 29 cont cting the left-hand side of the casing limits the upward movement of the dating assembly within the casing, while the contact of the block with the right hand side of the casing limits the downward movement of the dating assembly within the casing.

At its open upper end, casing lli is closed by cover @3, the sides of which preferably extend i down tc and terminate closely adjacent the operating wheels iS, when such wheels, together with the dating assembly, are in their fully raised position within the casing. Screws lili, which ex.. tend through the sides l5 of the cover and thread into the casing, serve to secure the cover to the casing. A handle Alt, preferably formed of wood, or any other suitable material, is secured to cover i3 by means of a screw lll. This screw threads into handle t@ and is rigidly secured at il to the ""-l cover 53, substantially centrally thereof, in any suitable or preferred manner. An opening i9 in side of the cover s3 permits the insertion of an instrument to operate bolt 33.

At its lower end, the casing lill has a stamping assembly, designated generally by the reference character detachabiy secured thereto. This stamping assembly comprises an inverted cupshaped member Eil, which is of generally rectangular form and of sufficient size to project for a short distance beyond the walls of the casing. The cup-shaped member may be formed of brass, or any other suitable material, and is adapted for the reception of a pad 52. This pad may be formed of rubber, or any other suitable resilient material, and is suitably secured within cup .member El by means of an adhesive, or in any other suitable or preferred manner. This pad formsa cushioning element for the printing characters 53 which are also secured to pad 52 by a suit- When the block is moved to the left, a

absence able adhesive,` or inanyfothersuitable'orpre# ferred manner. Y yIn the form 'shown in the drawing, these printing characters comprise the words Paid and John R. Doe Col, although any other suitable characters desiredfmay be emp'loyed. A slot 54 formed in cup member 5I and cushioningelement or pad 52-permits the lower portion of the dating assembly to project therethrough so that the printingcharacters carried by 'the dating assembly mayY cooperate with. the printing characters carried by]v the cushioning element. As theslot 54 is of sufcient size tov permit the lower end of the dating assemblyrto be projected therethrough-"it will be apparent that upon rotation of bolt 33, the dating assembly may be projected into or withdrawn from slot 54. This permits the dating assembly to be adjusted so that the printing characters carried thereby can be brought into the plane of the printing characters von any stamping assembly which is secured to the casing.

Stamping assembly 50 is vdetachably secured to casing IG by means of two flatdownwardly depending armsf55, which may be formed of any suitable metal. One ofthesev arms is secured, at its upper end, to the inner surface of side wall 56 of the casing, and the other arm is secured, at

its upper end, to the rear surface of wall l of v the casing.` These arms may be secured to the casing as by soldering, or in any other suitable or preferred manner. The arms lie closely adjacent the walls of the casing andterminate adjacent the open lower end thereof. At their lower Y "ends the .arms are ilaredoutwardly, as shown at 5B, and these outwardly flared portions of the arms are provided with a hook portion 59. This hook portion 59 is adapted to engage attaching members 69 secured to cup member 5I.

The attaching members Si) are preferably formed of relatively stii wire and are of generally U-shaped formation. There are two of thesemembers, one disposed on each side of slot 54V and extending parallel thereto. The members are adaptedto extend into casing lil and are so located upon cup member 5i that when they are inserted into the casing they will Contact the inner surface v,of walls 56 andv 5'! thereof. The arms Si of members 50 are rigidly secured to cup member 5I and the transverse portion thereof is depressed, as indicated at 62, to form cam surfaces 63. These cam'surfaces are adapted to engage the hook-portions 55 of arms 55 and to force the lower ends of the arms inwardly of the casing to permit lthe `depresse-d portions 62 of thev attaching members to pass therebetween. After passage of the depressed portions, the arms will snap back toward the walls of the casing and the hook portions 59 willengage the depressed portions 62 to secure the stamping assembly to the casing. To remove the stamping assembly from the casing, the arms 55 are each provided with a button 55, which is securedv to the arms vand extends outwardly through an opening `in the casing. By pressing inwardly onV these buttons, the arms 55 will be forced inwardly of the casing, thereby removing hook portions 59 from beneath depressed portions 62 of members Sii, and the stamping assembly may then be removed.

It will be noted that plates 23 have been pro-V vided With a slot 55, into which the upper ends of arms 55 may extend upon downward movement of the dating assembly. Y

Figures 8 and 9 show a new and improved Vform of operating wheel for the dating bands. This wheel comprises a disc 68, the outer periphery of vaxis of said member.

2. A stamp of the class described, comprising whichy is serrated at BQ'to provide a gripping 'surfaceto facilitate rotationof the Wheels `Disc 68 is preferably "formed of metal` and is provided with a plurality ofv openings "lil,k each of'which is partially countersunkfrom one side of the disc, as indicated at 1|. These openings are connected by an arcuate groove" 'lllthe depth of thegroov'e being substantially thesame as the depth-of countersunk portion 'Il of openings 7B. fH'ub 'I2' of the wheel is preferably formed of rubbercand a central bore 'F3 for mounting the wheel upon a shaft. Hub 12 is disposed onl the side of the disc opposite the openings 'I and the arcuate groove and the hub is secured to the disc by molding the rubber into the openings 'IQ and into the groove 'lll'.A l c' Y While preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and describedhby way of example, it will `be obvious that' changes mayfbe made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention and, therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the forms hereinA disclosed, except insofar as it maybe soli'mited in the appended claims.

What I claim is: c,

l. A stamp of the class described, comprising a casing, a dating assembly disposed in said casing and movable upwardly anddownwardly relatively thereto in fa plane, a`rotatable Y member, and means operatively associatedwith said rotatable member andv said dating assembly for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing, said member being jour'naled in said casing and having its axis disposed in'angular` relationship with respect to the path of movement of said dating assembly, whereby any force exerted upon saidmember duringa stamping operationv will be in a lplane disposedin angular relation to the a casing open at itsupper end anda coverv for closing said open upper end of said casing, a stamping assembly having a slot therein associated with saidcasing, a dating assembly disposed within said casing, and means associated with said'dating assembly and said casing and disposed wholly below said cover for moving the :dating assembly relatively tov the slot `in said stamping assembly. Y A

3. In a stamp of the class described; a casing, a dating assembly comprising a frame disposed in said casing for vertical movement with respect thereto, a plurality of plates securedA to said frame, and means carried by said plates andassociated with said casing for imparting the vertical movement to said dating assembly.

4. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a

dating assembly comprising a frame disposed in said casing for vertical movement with respect thereto, a plurality of plateshaving 'inclinedV slots formed therein. secured to said frame, and means engaging in the slots of saidv plates and associated with said casing for imparting the vertical movement to said dating assembly.

5. In a stampi of the class'described, a casing,

a dating assembly comprising a U-shapedfframev disposed in said casing, arplate disposedv oneach of the opposite sides of the transverse portion of said U-shaped frame, a block disposed between andY carried by said plates, and means associated with said block and said casing for moving said' dating `assembly relatively to said casing. y

6. In a stamp of the class described,'a casing,

a dating assembly comprising a U-shaped frame' disposed in said casing, a plate disposed on each'I of the opposite sides of the transverse portion of said U-shaped frame, each of said plates having a slot formed therein, a block disposed between said plates, bosses on said block engaging in the slots in said plates, and means associated with said block and with said casing for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing. 7. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly comprising a U-shaped frame disposed in said casing, a plate disposed on each of the opposite sides of the transverse portion of said U-shaped frame, each of said plates having slots formed therein, a block disposed between said plates, bosses on said block engaging in the slots in said plates, and a threaded bolt associated with said block and said casing for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing.

8. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly comprising a U-shaped frame disposed in said casing, a plate disposed on each of the opposite sides of the transverse portion of said U-shaped frame, each of said plates having inclined slots formed therein, a block having a threaded opening therein disposed between said plates, bosses on said block engaging in the slots in said plates, and a threaded bolt journaled in said casing and threaded through the opening in said block for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing.

9. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly comprising a U-shaped frame disposed in said casing, a notch formed on each of the opposite sides of the transverse portion of said frame, a plate seating in each of said notches and secured to said frame, a block disposed between and carried by said plates, and means associated with said block and said casing for moving said dating assembly relatively tosaid casing.

10. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly comprising a U-shaped frame disposed in said casing, a plate disposed on each of the opposite sides of the transverse portion of said U-shaped frame, each of said plates having a plurality of slots formed therein, means on said frame engaging in certain of said slots in said plates for securing said plates to said frame, a block disposed between said plates, bosses on said block engaging in the other slots in said plates, and means associated with said block and said casing for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing.

11. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly comprising a U-shaped frame disposed in said casing, a plate disposed on each of the opposite sides of the transverse portion of said U-shaped frame, a block disposed between and carried by said plates, a bolt associated with said block and with said casing for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing, and means carried by said bolt for preventing endwise movement of said bolt relative to said casing.

12. A stamp of the class described comprising a casing, a `dating assembly disposed in said casing, printing characters carried by said dating assembly, a stamping assembly having a slot therein associated with said casing, printing characters carried by said stamping assembly, a rotatable member journaled in said casing, and means connecting said rotatable member with said dating assembly and including means movable transversely of the casing upon rotation of said member to adjust said dating assembly relatively to said slot, whereby the printing characters carried by said dating assembly can be disposed in the plane of the printing characters carried by said stamping assembly.

13. A stamp of the class described comprising a casing, a dating assembly disposed in said casing for movement in the vertical plane thereof, a rotatable member journaled in said casing, and means connectingsaid rotatablemember with said dating assembly and including means movable in a plane disposed in angular relation to the plane of movement of said dating assembly for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing.

14. A stamp of the class described comprising a casing, a stamping assembly, attaching members secured to said stamping assembly, means comprising a plurality of arms secured to the inner surface of said casing, a hook formed on each of said arms and engaging said `attaching members to positively' lock said stamping assembly to said casing, and means carried by said arms for moving said hooks out of engagement with said attaching members to permit detachment of said stamping assembly from said casing.

15. A stamp of the class described, comprising a casing, a stamping assembly, attaching members secured to said stamping assembly, means comprising a plurality of arms each secured at one end to the inner surface of said casing, a hook formed on the other end of each of said arms and engaging said attaching members to positively hook said stamping assembly to said casing, and means carried by and disposed intermediate the ends of said arms for moving said hooks out of engagement with said attaching members to permit removal of the stamping assembly from the casing.

16. A stamp of the class described, comprising a casing, a dating assembly disposed in said casing, a screw extending transversely of said casing and rotatably journaled therein, and means connecting said dating assembly with said screw for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing upon rotation of said screw.

17. A stamp of the class described, comprising a casing, a dating assembly disposed in said casing, a screw extending transversely of said casing and rotatably journaled therein, a threaded block mounted upon said screw, and means connecting said dating assembly with said block for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing upon rotation of said screw.

18. A stamp of the class described, comprising a casing, a dating assembly disposed in said casing, a screw extending transversely of said casing and rotatably journaled therein, a threaded block mounted upon said screw, and a plurality of plates operatively connecting said dating assembly with said block for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing upon rotation of said screw.

19. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly comprising a frame disposed in said casing, a plurality oi plates disposed on said frame, a block operatively connected with said plates, and means associated with said block and said casing for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing.

20. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly comprising a frame disposed in said casing, a pair of opposed plates mounted on said frame, a block disposed between and operatively connected with said plates, and means associated with said block and said casing for moving said dating assembly relatively to said casing. l

21. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly disposed in said casing, a rotatable member extending between and having its ends journaled in opposite side Walls of said casing, and means operatively associated with said rotatable member and said dating assembly to adjust said dating assembly relative to said casing.

22. In a stamp of the class described, a casing, a dating assembly disposed in said casing for vertical movement with respect thereto, a rotatable member associated With said casing, means mounted on said rotatable member for translational movement With respect thereto, and means connecting said :rst named means with said dating assembly whereby translatory movement of said first named means will cause vertical movement of said dating assembly.

23. An operating Wheel of the class described comprising a disc having a plurality of openings therein, and. an arcuate groove formed on one face of said disc and connecting said openings, said openings being countersunk on the side of the disc having the arcuate groove, and a. hub of resilient material disposed on the opposite face of said disc, said hub having portions of the material thereof extending into said openings and groove to secure said hub to said disc and to restrain relative movement of said hub with respect to said disc.

LOUIS MELIND. 

